Combination-lock for engine-starting devices.



, A. FOURNAISE. COMBINATION LOOK FOR ENGINE STARTING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1912. I

PatntedFeb. 25, 1913 FIGJ WITNESSES:

ALBERT FOURNAISE, OF LYON, FRANCE.

COMBINATION-LOCK FOR ENGINE-STARTING- DEVICES.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

ratentee rat. a, rare.

Application filed February 20, 1912. Serial No. 678,851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALBERT FoUnNAIsn, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Lyon, in the French Republic, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combination-Locks for Engine-Starting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is a simple and practical device particularly ap plicable to the starting handles of motor road vehicles for preventing fraudulent starting of the vehicle, since it is necessary to know a particular combination of ciphers or characters in order to bring the usual starting crank handle in position for rotating the en ine shaft, and the secret combinations which are very numerous, can be varied as desired by the owner of the car or other authorized person.

In the annexed drawing which illustrates an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line A A of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the parts of the mechanism in position for preventing starting, whilein Figsl and 2 all the parts are in the necessary position for starting, so that the crank 1 can be'forced inward compressing the spring 2 whereby the clutch 3 of the crank can be brought into engagement with the clutch 4., the rotary movement of which revolves the engine shaft.

The mechanism comprises a number of disks 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, each provided with anotch 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and with a spur 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 respectively. The said spur is adapted to engage in one of a series of corresponding notches in outer rings 20, 21, 22, 23, 2a, to connect the disk to the respective ring. Each oi the rings has on its periphery letters, figures or other characters by the interrelation oi which dilierent secret combinations can be produced. I

The disks 59 are rotatably mourted on a tubular shank or member 25 provided with a longitudinal groove 26 which always atfords passage to the teeth 2'5 of a rod or member 28 which may be termed a comb. The said groove 26 permits a longitudinal movement of the shank 25 relativeiy to the comb, said shank being secured to the ban? die 1 in operative connection with the cllrtcli- 3. When the notches of the disks 5-9 coincide with the teeth 27 ofthe comb 28, they -member.

2. In a device of the character described, 110

the positions shown in Fig. 3, the notches $5 10 to 14. no longer coincide with the teeth 27 ot' the comb, and between said fixed teeth are solid parts of the disks which prevent any axial movement of the handle and con sequently any attempt to start the engine.

A. nut 29 fixes the crank on the shank 25, but this and other ,details of construction can be varied as reqdired as for instance the number of disks and rings.

It will be understood that the mechanism described effectually prevents fraudulent starting of the engine while allowing a per son acquainted with the combination to quickly start it by shifting the letters or, characters of the combination opposite 39 marks made on the crank and on the shank 25.

To vary the combination it is sufi aci'ent to turn the outer rings with regard to the disks which they surround whereby the notch into 35 which the spur penetrates is changed.

i As will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, each outer ring has a number of notches corresponding to a letter or character. Ro-

tation of the rings relatively to the disks can so be effected without trouble after rectilinear displacement of the rings which can be easily eiiected by unscrewing the nut 29 so that the handle can be removed. A suitable stop such as a collar 30 held in position by e495 screw 31 prevents rectilinear displacement of the rings in the other direction.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United tates is l. in a device of the character described, the combination with an engine starting member of a series of rotatable notched disks in operative connection therewith and a stationary member having teeth adapted to we prevent axial movement of Said disks until the notches therein are brought into coincidence with the teeth of said stationary the combination with an engine starting member of a series of rotatable notched disks in operative connection therewith, a stationary member having teeth adapted to prevent axial movement of said disks until the notches therein are brought into coincidence with the teeth of said stationary member, a rotatable character bearing ring surrounding each disk, and means for positively connecting the rings and disks.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine starting handle, a grooved shank connected thereto, a plurality of notched disks rotatably mounted on said shank, and a fixed member within same having teeth extending thron b said groove and adapted to engage said she to prevent axial movement thereof and of the handle until the notches in said disks coincide With said teeth.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

GASTON JEANNIANO, MARrUs Mnnoimm 

